Case Studies

Click on the links belowto see information about clinical case studies written by physical therapists and athletic trainers who have experience using the AlterG. These medical professionals have provided data and insights on how they were able to help their athletes and patients recover from a variety of injuries or surgical conditions utilizing AlterG’s partial weight bearing technology.

INJURY RELATED CASE STUDIES

4th Metatarsal Stress Fracture

Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
Athletes can find themselves in immense pain when a fracture occurs. By using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, injured individuals can unweight themselves and continue movement while minimizing impact on the affected foot.

Following release to weight-bearing, incorporate de-weighting into rehabilitation protocol

Develop a progressive return to activity

Maintain fitness and function during rehabilitation

Acetabular Fracture

Mike Silva, MS, PT, CSCS
An acetabular fracture can result in an ORIF surgical procedure. In an effort to get an active individual back to their typical lifestyle, an AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can help normalize gait patterns and begin overground walking.

Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Rohini Chandrashekar PT, MS, CCS
The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill allows reduced body weight with standing/walking to help with progressive return to cardiovascular activity. This reduced physiologic demand on a compromised cardiac system provides users with a safe, comfortable way to begin exercising and regain fitness levels.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Anna Hartman, MS, ATC, CSCS
Early mobilization and restoration of knee ROM is important to prevent antalgic gait patterns, minimize negative consequences of post-op stiffness, and prevent the development of compensatory issues. Later on in the rehab process, the Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used for a safe return to running progression.

Allows for safe, controlled gait training early in the post-operative rehab process

Closed kinetic chain exercises can be performed with support to decrease guarding and encourage proper AROM

Less knee flexion is needed so patient can start working on AROM earlier vs stationary bike

Allows for safe return to running progression

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (Non-Surgical)

Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
Encouraging mobility after an injury helps to decrease inflammation and stiffness, helping to restore range of motion. Improved motion and function can be important for maintaining fitness levels for athletes or those dealing with other medical issues such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Decreases pain by reducing load to lower extremities

Encourages movement to help reduce inflammation/stiffness

Maintains fitness levels for athletes or those with other medical issues by allowing movement /exercise while recovering

Anterior Cruciate Ligament & MicroFx

Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
Cartilage procedures can often require a period of modified or partial weight bearing by the patient to avoid damage to the healing tissue. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can precisely measure weight bearing status in as small as 1% increments, from 100% BW to as low as 20% BW. This ensures that the patient can adhere to all post-surgical precautions while encouraging movement.

Below Knee Amputee

Renee Wenger, MPT, CLT, MBA and Lisa Sibits, MPT
Amputees often have difficulty with balance and gait training, requiring upper body strength and assistance to learn how use their prostheses. The Anti-Gravity Treadmill can provide a safe gait training environment by providing weight bearing support and decreasing need for upper extremity use. The result is improved focus by patients on walking, and less concern about falling.

Bilateral Compartment Release

David Nissenbaum, MPT, MA, LAT
After surgical procedures or an injury, it’s important not to overload the healing tissue. Body weight support not only helps to decrease load with walking, it can also be used to prevent excessive stress when performing standing/closed-kinetic chain activities.

Body weight support allows for easier starting point when performing walking and closed kinetic chain activities

Bilateral Hip Resurfacing

Nicole Archambault, DPT and Jennifer Shaw, DPT
Cartilage surgical procedures often involve a period of reduced or gradual weight bearing to minimize stress to the healing tissue. Patients use assistive devices like crutches and walkers to aid walking, but this results in dysfunctional gait patterns. With the Anti-Gravity Treadmill’s safe, controlled loading, patients can progressively load the healing tissue without being too aggressive, resulting in smoother, less painful post-operative rehabilitation.

Encourages earlier pain-free mobility

Safely increase confidence in ambulating without assistive devices

Normalize gait patterns

Brainstem CVA

Kate Haugen, PT, DPT
Brainstem cerebrovascular accidents can result in abnormal gait patterns and limited functionality and mobility. Using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill in the rehabilitation process allows patients to normalize gait patterns and return to movement in a fall-safe environment.

Ambulation at reduced body weight to increase balance functionality

Reduce fall risk

Normalize gait pattern on both even and uneven surfaces

Cerebellar Atrophy

Karen Shuler, PT, DPT
Patients with balance deficits are at increased fall-risk, significantly affecting independence and quality of life. Lower body positive pressure training is an effective means to help these patients work on static and dynamic balance to regain function, increase stability and safety, and recapture their lives.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

James Creasey BSc (hons) MCSP | Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset, UK
Patients diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can be left debilitated with severe pain and lost function. By using the Anti-Gravity Treadmill to provide accurate and metered doses of weight bearing therapy, these patients can progressively load painful limbs to decrease sensitivity and restore mobility.

Allows for accurate, progressive loading to painful lower extremities

Work on restoring normal gait mechanics in a safe, controlled environment

Easily modify treatments based on patient response

FAI Arthroscopy

Tamara Johann Moreno, MS, DPT, COMT, ATC
Hip surgical procedures like arthroscopic debridement and labral repairs may result in increased sensitivity at the hip joint for a period of time. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used to introduce overground training earlier in the rehabilitation process to encourage proprioceptive retraining and to supplement cardiovascular training.

Early safe loading for post-surgical protocols

Begin proprioceptive retraining sooner

Maintain cardiovascular condition/fitness levels

Femoral Fracture Intramedullary Rod

Allison Granot, MPT
Patients who suffer severe orthopedic trauma often have difficulty regaining movement and function. Limited by pain, fear, and weakness, they have a hard time trusting the injured extremity. The Anti-Gravity Treadmill provides a safe, comfortable environment for these patients to regain mobility and regain their life.

Allows for safe, comfortable reintroduction of weight bearing on the injured lower extremities

Fibula Stress Fracture

Alison E. Barker, PT
After a fibular stress fracture, patients are limited to weight bearing as tolerated to manage their pain and get moving again. With the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, regular movement can be maintained and replicated by unweighting to minimize pain.

Functional Decline

Glenda Hill, MSR PT
Patients can be deconditioned after a significant illness, surgery, or any period of inactivity. Resuming exercise can be challenging and frustrating, so starting at lower body weights can provide a safe, comfortable option to help these patients begin their journey back to health.

Easily track progress to help patients see improvement and motivate them to continue on the road back to their prior level of function

Improved independence and safety for patients to help them regain their quality of life

Hip Labrum Repair and Microfracture

Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
Cartilage procedures can often require a period of modified or partial weight bearing by the patient to avoid damage to the healing tissue. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can precisely measure weight bearing status in as small as 1% increments, from 100% BW to as low as 20% BW. This ensures that the patient can adhere to all post-surgical precautions while encouraging movement.

Lateral Ankle Reconstruction

Matt Kraemer PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS
Immobilization after injury/surgery results in muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, and hypersensitivity that can make restoring a normal gait/running pattern a challenge. Using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill’s Differential Air Pressure support, patients can start walking at a fraction of their body weight, allowing them to decrease pain and focus on proper mechanics.

Encourage motion to lower extremity to help with decreasing inflammation/stiffness post-injury

Multiple Disc Herniation

Shelley Burgess, PT, MSPT, Mary Talbert McElyeen, and Hapton Shugart
One fall can lead to a multiple disc herniation and the recovery from spinal injuries requires easy levels of movement while increasing independence. The AlterG Anti-Gravity provides an environment for body weight support and enables patients to start standing and closed-kinetic chain activities at easier levels.

Multiple Lower Extremity Fractures

Judit Takacs, BSc, Jeff RS Leiter, PhD, and Jason D Peeler, PhD, CAT
Lower extremity fracture rehabilitation is important to reduce the risk of morbidity. Optimizing the rehab process can improve patient quality of life and outcomes. Current weight bearing methods often result in patients placing loads greater than what is recommended on healing bone, likely resulting in persistent pain and altered gait patterns. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill provides precise and accurate measures to ensure safe progression of lower extremity loading.

Precise, controlled loading of healing lower extremity fractures

Normalize gait mechanics by reducing pain with body weight support

Improve walking and functional confidence for daily activities performed outside of the rehabilitation setting

Improve quality of life

Non-Surgical Knee OA

Richard J Vicory, PT
Knee OA is the most common form of joint arthritis and can result in debilitating pain for sufferers. Loss of function and quality life can lead to devastating consequences for health and happiness. Lower body positive pressure training allows sufferers to perform functional activities like walking and squats with decreased joint compression forces. Increased activity/exercise can result in significant improvements in pain, ROM, and strength.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Greg Kucharski, PT, DPT
Brain injuries are usually accompanied by decreased balance, loss of safety with ambulation, and increased fall-risk for patients. This usually means a loss of independence and a significant effect on the patient’s quality of life. Lower body positive pressure training is an effective means to help these patients regain function, relearn proper movement, and recapture their lives.

Plantar Fascia Tear

Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
Patients with foot injuries, like fractures and plantar fascia tears, have difficulty with loading the injured limb because of stress to the healing tissue or instability of the deconditioned limb. Lower body positive pressure allows for the gradual reintroduction of body weight for a safer, less painful rehabilitation process.

Allows for accurate, progressive reintroduction of load to healing tissue

Helps patient work on restoring gait mechanics in a safe, controlled environment

Adjust load based on patient response

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Karren S Ko, PT1
Those with cardiac conditions may have difficulty tolerating upright positions or exercise for extended periods. Deconditioning can be counteracted in the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill by allowing a user to start walking or standing at a fraction of his or her body weight. Load can be reintroduced gradually as cardiovascular condition improves.

Proximal Tibia Fracture

Shelley Burgess, PT, MSPT, Mary Talbert McElveen, and Hampton Shugart
An undiagnosed stress fracture that leads to a weakened tibia can worsen the injury and create a situation where the patient is unable to be fully weight bearing. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used to maintain strength and range of motion while wearing an orthopedic boot.

Increase ankle range of motion to normal limits

Decrease pain at fracture site

Run at decreased weight

Normalize gait pattern

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

Alison E. Barker, PT
Post-surgery, athletes recovering from hip injuries are quick to want to return to sport. Using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can provide a quicker return to sport while minimizing overuse and pain.

Restore normal gait mechanics

Increase strength of lower extremities and core stabilizers

Develop cardiovascular conditioning

Stress Fracture – 3rd Metatarsal

Dathan Ritzenhein
Runners and other endurance athletes are concerned about taking too much time off activity for fear of losing cardiovascular conditioning. LBPP treadmills allow for earlier return to running with a safe, controlled progression.

Allows for safe, controlled return to running progression

Helps runners work on restoring mechanics in a pain-free, minimal stress environment

Can be used as an injury prevention tool allowing runners to complete mileage with less load/impact once healed

Preferred over aqua jogging/aquatic therapy because it most closely feels like/resembles running overground

Tibial Plateau Fracture

J.C.A. Noorduyn
Fractures can occur through many high-impact physical activities and patients are often anxious to get moving again. With the help of the Anti-Gravity Treadmill, individuals can get moving again while reducing the chance of additional injury.

Safe and stable environment post-surgery

Ability to move at reduced weight during rehabilitation

Early progression to higher intensities with reduced pain

Total Hip Arthroplasty

Nicole Archambault, DPT
Early, safe, pain-free mobility is the key to a successful post-operative course for Total Hip Replacement patients. The challenge for these patients is the need to adhere to surgical precautions. This can be done easily with the Anti-Gravity Treadmill’s NASA technology, which allows for safe walking at a fraction of the user’s body weight.

Allows for safe gait training

Encourages earlier pain-free mobility

Respect post-operative total hip precautions

Total Knee Arthroplasty

Paulo Bautista, RPT, Christopher Vasquez, OTR/L, Alyssa Barrett, Clinical Specialist, Allure Rehabilitation Services
Early post-operative mobilization for patients is important to prevent complications and improve functional mobility. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can encourage safe gait training and exercise in the early post-operative stages for patients under skilled nursing care. Improved functional status is key for a patient to be discharged safely from skilled nursing care to home health/outpatient PT.

Early motion post-operatively to improve function

Safe progression of functional status to help patient move to home health/outpatient PT

Allows patients with comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and diabetes to avoid further decline and increased severity in those conditions from bed rest/inactivity

Total Knee Arthroplasty

Caroline B Palmer, MSPT, OCS, CSCS
Total Knee Replacement patients often have difficulty with mobility post-operatively because of pain. Movement is necessary though to minimize the consequences that can occur from being immobilized too long, like increased scarring, joint stiffness, and muscle atrophy. The Anti-Gravity Treadmill can help these patients eliminate pain and encourage gain.

Encourages early mobility to help restore normal gait patterns

Safely increase confidence in ambulating without assistive device

Allows for symptom-free gait training

Better post-operative outcomes – PT completed rehab in 10 weeks

Unicompartmental Knee Replacement

Dave Nissenbaum, MPT, MA, LAT
A unicompartmental knee replacement after a very active lifestyle can leave an active individual anxious to return to activity. The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill allows for progressive weight bearing as tolerated to get moving again.

Develop a normal gait pattern

Progressively improve hip, knee, and core strength

Return to a normal walking program

Walking Program for Obesity

Dr. Shawn Simonson, EdD, Jane Shimon, EdD, Elaine Long, PhD, RD, and Brooke Lester, BS
The key for weight loss is balancing physical activity with nutrition. Energy expenditure must be consistently maintained above caloric intake if individuals are to reach their fitness goals. If someone has joint, muscle, or tendon pain, that can make exercise difficult. With the Anti-Gravity Treadmill, they don’t have to stop exercising if they do have pain. Just lighten the load with the AlterG and users will stay on the path to a healthier body.

Encourages physical activity for deconditioned individuals

Encourages exercise for those with joint pain

Allow for regular exercise prescription to maintain caloric expenditure for those who might otherwise give up

**Medical claims apply only to the M320 version of the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill®. There are no medical claims, expressed or implied, for the F320 or Pro 200 Anti-Gravity Treadmills; these products are intended for exercise, fitness, and wellness use.